"Since the early 1990s, Vancouver has hosted major world events ranging from international diplomatic meetings and global financial summits to large-scale awards ceremonies and global health care symposiums," says Bohdan Bilan, VP of Academics at CDI College. "And the international attention our province will receive in the next few months thanks to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is expected to influence this industry greatly for years to come."

The BC Work Futures website - an employment resource centre - echoes Bilan's sentiments. The site predicts positive employment prospects for Conference and Event Planning professionals over the next few years thanks largely to the province's status as a popular destination for both domestic and international tourism, coupled with its increased ability to host large events in a number of cities.

Students in the diploma program will focus on administration, event coordination, marketing planning and implementation and risk management. They will also learn about Human Resource management, professionalism and leadership. Students will also have the opportunity to plan and stage an event in the final weeks of coursework before heading out to a practicum placement to gain on-the-job experience.

"Event coordinators and managers may be expected to plan for a variety of events from corporate conferences to festivals to corporate retreats," adds Bilan. "As such, they need to see both the big picture and the finer details in order to facilitate a successful event. In order to do this, they need to develop a solid foundation in the principles of management and coordination. That's exactly what this program intends to do."